November 28// I am thankful for my friends. Oh man, I do not know where I'd be without them.
There's something special about having best friends in high school. We have all been friends since freshman year and have only gotten closer. I'll never forget when I saw this one girl's tweet that said "I'm jealous of the people who have had a solid group of friends all of high school". It wasn't until then that I realized how rare and treasured my little group of friends. Freshman year, there was almost 12 girls that I would hang out with. Each year, we all became a little more ourselves and some would break apart, while some of us stayed ...And then there was five:)
We know each other so well and connect on a level most don't understand. Loving your friends is different than any other kind of love. Everyone has their soul mate, but not everyone has best friends.
I can't even comprehend us all being apart next year. Each on our own little path figuring out life without each other, but still connected at heart. We'll still text, snapchat, talk, skype, and know what's going on each other's lives, but it's different. As many people lament about high school, they need to realize that it's actually great because you get to be with your best friends everyday. You don't get that lucky when you're an adult. I hold onto each little moment with my friends, whether it be the small things like talking to Sierra in math or the big things like homecoming. As once said in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, time is what keeps things from happening all at once.
we would always find our way back to each other. yes, yes, yes.
Now for some friendship quotes because quotes are my favorite thing
Little things... Bonanza bombs, broken arms, dance parties, nicknames, peeing pants, sleeping on trampolines...
November 27// Today, I am thankful for my health. When you live a pretty average life, you sort of take for granted the blessing of a healthy life. It's not until you see the hardships someone else is facing that it all gets put into perspective.
I've had my health ups and downs, but ultimately, I am happy, healthy, and I feel terrific! I read a lot of books and blogs and watch a lot of movies and documentaries where people are sick and because of them, my eyes have been opened up to how tiny are issues are in the grand scheme of things. A primary motive of mine in being a doctor is giving everyone an opportunity at life because everyone deserves it.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has always been one of my favorite organizations. Pediatric cancer has a special place in my heart and I've secretly always dreamed of being the doctor who finds the cure for cancer;) Until then though, I do what I can. My favorite campaign of theirs is the Thanks and Giving campaign. Their slogan, which just sticks with me especially in the holiday season is "Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not"
Yesterday I had the opportunity to give. I donated blood and there was such satisfaction that came with it. Although I felt a little faint afterwards, it was worth it in the end to know that my blood could go to help someone who really needs it. I encourage everyone to go donate blood-- only 37% people in the US are eligible to donate, and only 10% actually do. It hurts less than a flu shot, and you get free snacks afterwards;) Plus, it's kinda cool to see a whole pint of your blood just sitting there in a bag. Donating 8 times means you've donated a gallon of blood! Can you imagine seeing a whole gallon of blood? That would probably make me a little sick, to be quite honest. But that's a whole lot of helping!
So today, I give thanks for my health, and give to those who are not.
xo
Hannah
PS: speaking of health... s/o to Jess who got her wisdom teeth out today! I feel your pain and hope that it goes away fast! Ice and take those drugs! And if you're interested in seeing the side effects of coming out of anesthesia, I'm sure you'll more than enjoy this video
November 26// I am thankful for the days leading up to the holidays. The anticipation and excitement in the air is palpable, as kids wait to get out of school and enjoy time with family, friends, all with good food of course!
Soooo, my mom has the whole week of Thanksgiving off, but the middle school and high school still have to go to school on Monday and Tuesday. It's pretty stupid, especially because a ton of kids are gone from school those two days. It's become a tradition that we play hooky on Tuesday and go to heaven on Earth, aka the North Pole! It's my paradise, my little slice of heaven. It's really just an old Christmas-themed amusement park up in Colorado Springs with rickety rides, Santa, reindeer, Christmas music everywhere you go, and some pretty awesome little shops, but to me, it's a place of dreams. There's just a magical spirit in the air, I don't know how to describe the kind of special it is.
I made a video this year of our day at the North Pole because videos are my favorite thing to make. I hope you feel the Christmas spirit, not the motion sickness, this wonderland has! For a better quality version, go to my Vimeo here!
(oh and I do not know why some of the noise of the actual video is there- it is all muted in iMovie but it has not downloaded without it! ugh technology)
November 25// Today I am thankful for education. Growing up in middle-upper class suburbia, I definitely forgot how lucky I am to have such a great school with dedicated teachers and several educational opportunities.
I have always really, really loved school. Sure, I hate waking up early and I having a ton of homework, but I know that around the world, there are kids who would do anything to have an education. I work hard for good grades, and a self-proclaimed lifelong learner who believes in the commitment to education (haha I took that straight from my CU app)
I feel so lucky that college is an option for me- I now officially can go! I have been accepted to the University of Oregon, holla at your girl! I got the official acceptance letter today in the mail, but found out last Friday on the phone. I was trying to check my application status so I was on the phone with an assistant or whatever you want to call them, and as she was looking up my information, she nonchalantly said "Oh, and I just wanted to let you know that we admitted you for the fall 2014 term two days ago." I about started crying, I was caught so off guard! It was super exciting to call my parents and let them know:) I don't really know how badly I want to go to Oregon, but being a Duck is officially an option!
I cannot wait for more acceptance letters to roll in, and to see where I actually end up going! It's nice to see all the hard work of college applications and 12 years of school pay off!
November 24// I am thankful for my dad, better known as Marvin or Marv. He's pretty much the coolest dad on the planet, even if he wears the same disgusting, old Broncos sweatshirt and faded jeans on Saturdays and doesn't always know when to lay off. I know he would go to the ends of the earth for me, and there's no greater feeling than knowing that someone loves you that much. Let me tell you somethings about my dad
Marvin Fast Facts
1. Marvin has the earliest bedtime of anyone at my house. It's not an assigned bedtime, it's just a "I'm tired so I'll go to bed at 8pm" bedtime. If only that was what I could do too.
2. Marvin lacks style. I guess my awesome style makes up for his lack of it, but my mom and I often tell him that we're putting him on What Not To Wear. I think he just likes his casual clothes to be comfortable. And in his eyes, comfortable clothes are usually ten years old or are free from some cattle company.
3. Marvin is the fifth of six kids and the only one to not still live on a farm/in a rural area. I applaud you on spreading your wings, father.
4. Whatever you want to know about the cattle/beef industry, Marvin is there to help with.
5. Sam's Club is Marvin's favorite store. He goes every Saturday morning and has an extremely difficult time sticking to the list my mom sends him. All the 'good deals' just lure him in...
6. I'm pretty sure my friends like Marvin more than me.
7. Marvin's specialties in the kitchen include: thin pancakes/crepes, kolachis, orange popcorn balls, pepper jelly, ribs, mashed potatoes, and omelets.
8. I am without a doubt Marvin's favorite child. #oldestchildperks
9. Marvin is so afraid of needles and the doctor, when he had to get blood drawn once, a nurse had to come to our house to get the blood sample. He's also passed out at the eye doctor and the podiatrist.
10. Marvin has caught a shark before when he was deep sea fishing.
So now that you're well actuated with some info on my strange father, let me brag about how great he is. My dad is compassionate- he worries about the well being of not only his family, but of strangers too. Marvin is the greatest listener- he might not always be a good responder, but he sure can listen. He is hilarious- too many funny stories to tell. Marv is always there for me- I'm going to really miss my dude next year.
Today Marvin and I hung up Christmas lights. While he talked about how cold he was (such a little wuss), I sang him some Christmas carols and took some selfies on the roof.
November 23// I am thankful for babies. Holy shoot I am thankful for babies. Disclaimer to my mom and any of my friends mom reading this, I'm not having babies anytime soon, so don't freak out, but that doesn't mean I don't love the heck out of them.
Buuuutttttt, I can't wait to have babies;) and lots of them. I want a big family, with 4-6 children, more on the 6 side. (oh I'm sure I'm freaking my mom out right now) I think at this age, there's two types of girls- the ones who want to have babies now (me! and Mackenzie!) and the people who don't want to have babies, now or in the future, or never (you know who you are). If there's one thing I know that I will be good at it, it's being a mother, so having little sweet babies cannot come soon enough!
Let me just explain my thankfulness/love for babies.
1. They're cute.
2. They let you dress them in whatever you want!
3. They need you, and it's nice to be needed.
4. They're innocent, and that's a gift in itself.
5. They're cute. (you can't help but add that twice)
So let me share with you some of my favorite pictures of babies. Because you cannot deny a baby's cuteness.
November 22// I am thankful for books. Reading is my favorite past time, I've loved it forever. It's easy, and you can do it anywhere.
More specifically, today I am thankful for my favorite book, "My Sister's Keeper". It is the one exception to the rule in which you should never buy a book with the movie picture as the cover. I remember the day I bought it very distinctly. It was in the summer, the year before I was going to 8th grade. I went shopping with one of my middle school best friends that day, Madi. And boy did we shop. We both spent almost $60 at Aeropostale (such a middle school store), along with buying some body spray and lotion from Bath & Body Works, and of course, frappuccinos from Starbucks. I was about to leave for Virginia to visit my aunt and uncle and baby cousins so quickly before Madi's mom picked us up, I ran into Borders, which is now a massive Forever 21, and grabbed this book. They didn't have the non-movie cover and I just knew it was a book I had to read, and I had to read now. I was leaving for my trip in three days... I finished the book in one.
I remember reading it so quickly, yet so slowly, trying to savor every word. I quickly fell in love with Jodi Picoult's writing.
I love that this book has pages that are dog earred and wrinkled, and the covers edges are peeling and fading. I've got parts memorized and always cry whenever I read it. I've never had a book that I loved so much and that left me so inspired.
My sister, who's in 8th grade, wanted to borrow my book. I almost didn't let her because she just seemed too young for such a complex story, but then I realized that I was younger than her when I read the book. I didn't want to restrict her from the greatest book ever-- especially one that left me more than inspired. I remember when she finished it, and came to me, confused and upset with the ending. Oh Olivia, how I feel with ya.
My Sister's Keeper was also the book that clicked a piece of the puzzle inside me together. I read the book, gaining more than perspective but a call to action. It's the book that really made me think about what I wanted to do with my life. Seventh grade, I knew I wanted to help people through medicine. I dabbled with the idea of being a neonatologist or a pediatrician. But reading My Sister's Keeper opened my eyes up to oncology and there's always been a piece that has stuck with me. After reading that book, I knew for sure I was going to be a doctor, and a darn good one. It made me realize how I will do anything and everything to help people who are sick, whether that be through donating blood or cutting my hair for wigs for cancer patients, I want to do anything to give someone life, because it has been a gift for me.
At my high school, as seniors, we have to do a project in order to graduate. They want you to choose something that you're interested in, something with a learning curve, something that maybe you can use down the road in life. I chose to shadow an oncologist and research bone marrow transplants. I'm writing my research paper on the ethics of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, which is what My Sister's Keeper is completely based on.
If you haven't read My Sister's Keeper, do it. I promise that it won't disappoint.
my favorite santa knit socks, striped leggings, and the best book ever.
Oh, and the movie is alright. It's different than the book, I'll tell you that, but I won't tell you how. I cried, but I cry easily at movies so there's that. (I just rewatched the trailer and almost started crying, it hits me bone deep) But Abigail Breslin is in it and she is my favorite actress ever so you can enjoy that too.
And this song from the movie is a favorite- it's a reminder that life is a precious gift.
xo
Hannah
PS: Happy 18th birthday Maddison! I hope you had the best day ever! xoxoxo
